With things looking up and sunny days on the horizon, we’ve put together another edition of our ‘what’s on’ guide for the city of Manchester and beyond.
Some of the events we’re going to mention here are completely free, others will set you back a few pounds, and most will need to be booked in advance – but all are COVID-secure in order to keep you as safe as possible.
Here’s a few of our top picks.
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RHS Garden Bridgewater
Salford
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Monday 31 May – onwards
RHS Garden Bridgewater
Did you see the RHS Garden Bridgewater has finally opened to the public?
As many Greater Manchester residents will know, the opening of the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) newest £44 million garden attraction – which is located off Leigh Road in Worsley – has been delayed on a number of occasions due to ongoing restrictions amid the pandemic, but now it’s been revealed that visitors will be welcomed for the first time in May.
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The 154-acre garden at the former Worsley New Hall estate is the biggest hands-on horticultural project undertaken in Europe since planning permission was granted in 2017.
It will be the first-ever RHS Garden located in an urban area.
You can find more information and grab tickets ahead of the grand reopening here.
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Box on the Docks
MediaCityUK
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Monday 7 June – onwards
Box on the Docks
MediaCityUK’s popular outdoor dining concept Box on the Docks (BOTD) is welcoming customers back to its waterside ‘pods’ this week, with the collection of 30 sheds and greenhouses having undergone renovation from local artists.
An exciting range of residents are moving into the neighbourhood for the summer, along with beloved local eateries from across the region such as Grandad’s Sausages, I Knead Pizza, Bada Bing Deli and Batard Bakery.
You can find more information about Box on the Docks 2021 here.
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Electric Gamebox
Manchester Arndale
Monday 7 June – onwards
Electric Gamebox – the immersive group gaming experience that lets players transport themselves into another reality – has reopened its doors at Manchester Arndale, with a choice of five exhilarating immersive games lasting between 30-60 minutes.
After months stuck at home, Electric Gamebox delivers a truly interactive experience that the whole group can get involved in.
The games take place within a futuristic ‘Gamebox’ – a room that uses projection mapping, touch screens, surround sound and motion tracking technology. Working together in groups of between 2-6, the high-energy entertainment experience requires no heavy wearables or equipment, just a cool visor given upon arrival.
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You can find more information, and book your tickets here.
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Snorkel with Sharks
SEA LIFE Manchester
Monday 7 – Sunday 13 June
SEA LIFE Manchester
SEA LIFE Manchester has launched a brand new snorkel cage experience that’s letting people get closer than ever have before to more than 1,000 creatures of the deep at the Trafford Centre-based marine life aquarium.
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Snorkel with Sharks is a one-hour surface snorkelling adventure, suitable for swimmers age 10+ and includes a full briefing, introduction to the incredible creatures you can expect to see, and 20 minutes snorkelling in the purpose-built shark cage.
Tickets cost £40 per person, and the session can be booked for two to four people from the same household or bubble.
You can find more information and book your tickets here.
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A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Homeground by HOME
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Tuesday 8 – Saturday 26 June
HOME
Being billed as one of the most exciting and inventive Shakespeare productions of recent years, with rave reviews coming in fast, this is your chance to experience a riotous version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream reimagined as part of our HOME MCR’s summer programme at the brand-new, festival-style outdoor events hub, Homeground.
Suitable for ages 12+ and featuring live music, young lovers and warring fairies cross paths in this irreverent adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays.
You can find more information and book your tickets here.
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Top Secret
Science and Industry Museum
Wednesday 2 June – 31 August
Science and Industry Museum
Top Secret: From Ciphers to Cybersecurity will pore over a century’s worth of secret communications and intelligence in an exhibition containing over 100 objects from GCHQ and the Science Museum Group.
The exhibition will include, for the first time, objects related to Alan Turing and his team’s work intercepting German comms at Bletchley Park.
Visitors can also explore how Britain protected its skies during WWI, how codes were cracked in WWII, and the ways in which intelligence agencies foiled one of the most successful spy rings operating during the Cold War.
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The exhibition will also explore modern digital security – considering recent examples of major cyber hacks such as the WannaCry attack on the NHS.
Park N Party – the team that delivered both the sell-out successes of ScareCity, ChristmasCity and a number of other outdoor live events throughout 2020 – has launched a new venture titled SecretCity, and there’s a whole host of immersive drive-in entertainment events happening this week.
There’s screenings of scary cinema favourites including Insidious, Annabelle, Goosebumps, The Nun and more all on show throughout the week.
Tickets must be booked in advance, and you can grab yours from £35 per car here.
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mjf @ Escape to Freight Island
Depot Mayfield
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Saturday 11 – Sunday 13 June
mjf @ Escape to Freight Island
Manchester Jazz Festival is bringing three days of music right to Escape to Freight Island at Depot Mayfield this weekend.
The team behind the region’s longest-running music festival will bring the very best in contemporary jazz to three stages – ‘The Ticket Hall’, ‘The Round’ and ‘The Pavilion’ – at the highly-popular Piccadilly venue this June.
A selection of street food and open-air bars will complete the festival vibe.
The event will be free to access, and audiences can book tables across the venue throughout each day of the extended weekend.
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You can book your tickets for mjf @ Escape to Freight Islandhere.
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Vegan & Ethical Markets
Victoria Baths
Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 June
Victoria Baths
Manchester’s Victoria Baths is gearing up to host its first-ever ethical and sustainable markets this weekend.
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The markets will boast a range of sustainable and ethical stands selling food treats, home crafts, sustainable household creations, recycled jewellery, and more.
Vegan & Ethical Markets are taking place from 11am – 8pm on both Saturday and Sunday, with entry setting you back £4, or free for ‘Friends of Victoria Baths’ and under 16s, and booking in advance required via the website, with entrance staggered in order to maintain social distancing.
All money raised by the event will go towards the upkeep of the building, and you can find more information here.
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Manchester Cheese Crawl
Central Manchester
Saturday 12 June
Geograph / Ian S | Northern Soul Grilled Cheese
The Manchester Cheese Crawl is two hours of non-stop cheese-related fun, including everything from blue cheese tasting, to cheese quizzes, competitions and more.
Starting off in St Ann’s Square, the tour wanders across the city and gives you the chance to try the finest cheeses Manchester has to offer along the way.
With tours taking place every Saturday until September 25, tickets cost just £25 each and include cheese samples, optional bread and crackers, and some red wine to complement.
The OT Art Trail – which has been organised by OT Creative Space and is funded by Arts Council England – sees a number of local artists work together with members of the Manchester community to create six individual large scale murals which have been painted onto walls and building gable ends around the area, including in Seymour Park and Ayres Road.
The new murals have added to murals and artwork already seen around Old Trafford.
The several new street art sites will be linked together via a downloadable audio tour, which is suitable for people of all ages.
Each mural centres around the theme ‘community togetherness and diversity’.
You can find more information on The OT Art Trail via the OT creative SPACE website here.
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Totally Roarsome
Mottram Hall
Monday 7 – Sunday 13 June
Totally Roarsome
Totally Roarsome took the region by storm last summer after it opened to the public following the initial lifting of lockdown restrictions in mid-2020, with visitors flocking from far and wide.
Now at the new location of Mottram Hall, just over the border into Cheshire, Totally Roarsome features everything from dinosaurs, jungle animals and Arctic creatures, to superheroes, pirates and cartoon characters.
Tickets are priced at £7.95 per ticket (+ £1.50 booking fee, per transaction), and must be booked in advance online from the Totally Roarsome Facebook page.
You can find out more information, and book your tickets here.
What's On
Full list of locations announced for Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 – including NEW places
Emily Sergeant
The full list of locations for Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 has been announced.
Now in their 27th year, Manchester Christmas Markets are known and loved for bringing thousands of people into the city centre each year to fill up on the fantastic festive treats and soak up all the Christmas atmosphere.
This year will see a bigger return of Albert Square, after the headline-grabbing partial return at last year’s event, with the big wheel also set to make a comeback.
There’s also set to be some new locations too for 2026, with Lincoln Square joining in on the action. And there will also be big changes to St Ann’s Square, according to the Council, with what is being described as a ‘brand new layout’ bringing in a bigger number of market stalls.
There will be a total of 210 stalls spread out across the city centre.
And the Council has now revealed the full list of locations where you’ll find stalls this year, including giving a teaser on what types of stalls will be in each location.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 locations have been confirmed / Credit: The Manc Group | Flickr
Albert Square
Albert Square is gearing up to be a must-visit Christmas Market location this year, hosting a packed programme of festive experiences, including:
A 50-metre ferris wheel and a vintage helter-skelter.
A festive pop-up pub with live entertainment (which is new for 2026)
Food, drink, and craft stalls from local and international traders
A glittering Christmas tree with its life-size sleigh
Manchester’s very-own giant Santa sitting high above the markets in front of the Town Hall
The markets will be open here daily from Friday 6 November to Sunday 3 January 2027, except for Christmas Day.
Lincoln Square
A brand-new Christmas market location for 2026, just a step away from Albert Square.
Here you can enjoy festive refreshments, seasonal treats, and warming drinks from local and international traders – with jerk chicken, homestyle lasagne and pasta, Korean corn dogs, and so much more.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
King Street
On King Street, you can browse soaps, decorations, local spirits, and truckle cheeses, or visit the Italian deli for gourmet meats, cheeses, and Mediterranean produce. Before heading off, make sure to visit mouth-watering food stalls for chicken and waffles, mac and cheese, Hong Kong-style French toast, Greek gyros, and so much more.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
Manchester Christmas Markets are known for bringing thousands of people into the city centre / Credit: Manchester City Council
St Ann’s Square
The original home of Manchester Christmas Markets has been given a makeover and will have an exciting new layout for 2026. Grab a bite to eat and enjoy the twinkling lights of a giant Christmas tree, while sipping on a Guinness, a glühwein, or festive cocktail.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
Corn Exchange
Browse the stalls in front of the Corn Exchange for unique gifts of all kinds from crafters, take home tasty festive treats like pork pies, handmade truffles, and artisan cheeses, or shop for clothing, jewellery, fabulous accessories and more.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
Exchange Street & Exchange Square
Exchange Street and Square is back with many of the favourites you know and love.
Treat your taste buds to loaded hash browns, Yorkshire pudding wraps, traditional bratwurst, decadent hot chocolate, frosty affogatos, and Dubai-inspired chocolate-covered strawberries, before exploring the stalls selling a range of crafts and gifts against a backdrop of twinkling festive lights.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
There will be a total of 210 stalls spread out across the city centre / Credit: Manchester City Council
New Cathedral Street
New Cathedral Street is a must-visit destination for Christmas shopping. But don’t miss the traditional German bratwurst and beers, or a chance to indulge yourself in delicious steak frites with hot raclette cheese poured over the fries.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
Market Street
Market Street is back and bigger than ever, with even more craft and gift stalls to explore. And then when you’re ready for a break from shopping, test your skills with carnival-style games including darts and hook-a-duck.
The markets will be open here until 22 December from 10am to 9pm every day, except 22 December when they will close at 6pm.
Cathedral Gardens
Expect plenty of activities for all ages at Cathedral Gardens, particularly for younger visitors, like Skate Manchester’s huge covered ice rink, mini fairground games, free live entertainment, and loads of food and drink stalls.
The markets will be open here daily from Friday 6 November to Sunday 3 January 2027, except for Christmas Day.
Find out everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 here.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
What's On
Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live – tickets, times and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
American girl group Pussycat Dolls have reunited for a UK tour, stopping off at Co-op Live in Manchester with their powerhouse pop anthems.
Releasing their first LP in 2005, this pop girl group have a variety of radio hits to their name like ‘Don’t Cha’, ‘When I Grow Up’ and ‘Buttons’.
Over the years, the Pussycat Dolls lineup has gone through significant changes with this latest reunion comprised of Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberley Wyatt and Ashley Roberts.
The trio even released some brand-new material to coincide with the announcement of their UK and EU tour titled ‘Club Song’.
Now the girls are about to put their Doll Domination to the test as they bring their PCD Forever Tour in arenas across the nation.
Gig guide – Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live, Manchester
Doors for Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live open from 6pm with a start time listed of 7pm with Lil’ Kim and rising girl group Deja Vu kicking things off.
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you can get home and loosen your ‘Buttons’, hopefully before the clock strikes twelve.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Emily Sergeant -
4th June 2021 
